Circular knitting machine



June 1, 1937. .1. SIRMAY 2,082,127

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 5, 1930 5 SheetsSheet 1 June 1, 1937. J. SIRMAY CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 5, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTO A TTORN E YS.

June 1, 1937. slRMAY I 2,082,127

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 5, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN TOR.

44 TTORNEYS.

June 1, 1937.

J. SIRMAY CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed.June 5, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 1, 1937. J, S MA 2,082,127

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 5, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 "14 TTORNEYS.

Patented June 1, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Julius Sirmay, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Jacquard Knitting Machine 00., Inc., a; corporation of New York Application June 5, 1930, Serial No. 459,339'

This invention relates to circular 10 Claims.

knitting marelations between the dial stitches and the cylinder stitches composing it; for example, for knitting 1:1 fabric alternately with 2:2. The invention is not limited to either 1:1 or 2:2 however nor to these two together, nor is it limited to the'production of a fabric or fabrics of only two stitch relations, as will become apparent.

To provide'an improved machine for knitting patterned fabrics, as well as plain fabrics of two or more different relations between their dial stitches and their cylinder stitches.

To provide for the production,

on circular rib machines, of such patterned goods wherein individual rows of stitches in the face or patterned side of the fabric are composed in part of stitches formed of one yarn and in part of stitches formed from another or other yarns,

and having for their opposite side or back the so-called twill back and/or birdseye back,

without however the back seeming into sections.

to be divided This feature is also applicable wherever it is'desired that the back of the fabric be knitted in a more-or less regular manner, but where it is desired that the number of stitches knitted by those needles forming the back shall, in each rotation of the cam cylinder or dial cam carrier for example, be less than the product of the number of needles inthe needle bed on which the back is knitted multiplied by the number of yarns employed in forming the pattern'or other fancy effect on the face of the fabric. Back-formations of this type are herein referred to as reduced-stitch backs. To provide for the production of reduced-stitch backs in machines adapted also for knitting plain fabric having two or more different relastitches.

' tions between its dial stitches and its cylinder To provide in a machine arranged to produce patterned goods alternately with plain ribbed goods, and having yarn changers, mechanism to assure the new yarn being taken by the cylinder needles when the yarns are being changed.

To improve circular rib knitting machines in still other respects.

- And, by combining more or less of the foregoing features, to provide a circular rib knitting machine adapted to knit complete garment-length fabrics having plain' knit borders different from the plain knitting in the bodies and patterned in the bodies as desired.

The manner in which these various features are accomplished appears hereinafter.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a highly developed form of knitting machine embodying all the foregoing to the common end of providing a machine adapted to knit complete garment-length fabrics self finished at one end. In these drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of this machine, partly in section; its racking and dogless mechanism, which is built above the main body of the machine being shown at one side of the latter; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same machine; Fig. 3 is an elevation of one section of the pattern mechanism. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of one of the pattern mechanism sections and the adjacent portion of the knitting machine;

Fig. 5 is an elevation of one of the yarn changing mechanisms; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the latter, and also showing mechanism for moving one of the dial cams into and out of operation; Fig. 7 shows similar mechanism for another dial cam; Fig. 8 is an elevation of one of the yarn guides; Fig. 9 is a plan view 'of the dial cams of two feeds of the machine; Fig. 10 is a sectional view of one of the trick wheels or skip operators of the dial needles employed in the production of reduced-stitch backs; Fig. '11 is a face view of a part of the wheel or operator of Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a front elevation of a latch opener for needles of the dial; Fig. 13 is a side elevation of this latch opener, at right angles to the showing of Fig. 12, and also showing a guide for holding the dial needles in place in their slots at the point where their latches are opened; Fig. 14 is an elevation of one of the mechanisms employed for raising and lowering the stitch cams of the cylinder needles; Fig. 15 is a sectional view of the mechanism of Fig. 14, the joint operation of a related stitch cam of the dial needles being also shown in this figure; Fig. 16 is a plan view'of a detail of the operating mechanism of Fig. 14; Fig. 17 is a sectional view illustrating the different length needle butts employed and also showing one of the cams for projecting the dial needles; Fig. 18 is a sectional view illustrating one of the thin cylinder needle raising cams and its operation with respect to long and'short butt needles; Fig. 19 is a section illustrating one of, the thick cylinder needle operating cams; Fig. 20 is a plan view of one of the mechanisms h re employed for raising and lowering the cylinder needle raising cams; Fig. 21 is an elevation of the subject matter of Fig. 20; Fig. 22 is an elevation, partly in section, of the master controller and the driving mechanism of the knitting machine. Fig. 23 is a section through the driving mechanism of the machine as indicated by the arrow and section line on Fig. 22. Fig. 24.is an elevation of a pin wheel of the pattern mechamsm.

The multiple feed circular ribbed knitting machine chosen to illustrate the invention is a four feed machine, the feeds being generally denominated by the letters A, B, C, and D in- Fig. 1. The upper bed plate I and lower bed plate 2 of the machine can be assumed to be supported by legs in some well-known manner. The needle cylinder 3 and dial 4 are stationary, the cylinder 3 resting on the bed plate 2 and the dial 4 being suspended on the post 6 in the usual manner; the manner in which the dial 4 is held stationary with respect to the cylinder 3, by bracket 1 rising from bed plate I, is discussed later. The needle cylinder is surrounded by the usual (and here rotating) cam cylinder 8 from which a bracket 9 rises and drives the dial cam carrier l0 through the link II in quite an ordinary manner. So far as a part of the invention is concerned, the cam cylinder 8 can be driven in various known ways; the manner in which it is driven by preference, in view of the various types of fabrics producible on it, is described later.

In order to produce a fabric (or fabrics) having different relations between its (or their) dial stitches and cylinder, stitches (for example, to produce plain 1:1 fabric alternately with plain 2:2 fabric) I employ a multifeed machine. At,

say, one of the feeds, A, I arrange for knitting on such a certain limited lot of the needles of at least one of the needle banks (dial or cylinder) as will produce fabric of one of the desired stitch relations. At, say, another feed, B, I provide for knitting on such another lot of the needles (of the same or the opposite bank) as will produce fabric having the second desired stitch relation. Likewise at a third and other feeds if a fabric (or fabrics) of three or more different stitch relations are desired. Where necessary or desirable (as will frequently be the case and as is illustrated by the machine shown in the accompanying drawings) different lots of needles feeds, such as feeds Aand C, can be used\ to produce fabric of one stitch relation and, say, two or more other feeds, such as feeds B and D, can be employed to produce another stitch relation, etc. In general then, I so arrange or construct the machine that each stitch relation is the individual product of a certain feed or feeds. One or all thefeeds producing one of thedesired stitch relations, is so constructed of course that it or they can be held out of action while another or other feeds is or are operating. Generally speaking, the differing and individual actions at the various feeds during plain knitting, can be obtained in various ways. With individually sliding needles however, I preferably employ needles differing among themselves in form (for example, long and short needles,

needles having long and short butts, etc.; note needles I3 and I4 in Fig. 17), and therewith, preferably, at the different feeds of the machine, employ cams to slide the needles which differ among themselves, in, say, shape, thickness or location to such an extent that one cam is capable of engaging and sliding needles of one form, and another cam needles of another form, etc. In the present instance the machine illustrated is shown set up for making 1:1 plain fabric alternately with 2:2 plain fabric; in the dial (see Fig. 9) long butt needles |3 are arranged in pairs, each pair being followed by a short butt needle |4;- likewise in the cylinder long butt needles H! are arranged in pairs, each pair being followed by one short butt needle l9 (Fig. 18); at feeds A and C thin cams 20 (Fig. 17), deep enough to engage only the high butts, are used to project the (high butt) dial needles I3 to clearing positions (loops behind the latches), and thin cams 2|, engaging only the high butt cylinder needles l8, serve to project the (high-butt) cylinder needles to clearing positions; in feeds B and D, the dial projecting cams 22 and the cylinder projecting cams 23 are thick enough to project the low butt needles l4 and I9 to clearing positions, as well as the high butt needles I3 and i8. The dial cams 20 and 22 are hinged to the dial cap ID for individual movement into and out of action; also the cylinder cams 2| and 23 are slidable into and out of action. Consequently when cams 20 and 2| are in operation (positions shown in Figs. 9 and 19) and cams 22 and 23 are retracted or out of operation (dotted line positions in Figs. 9 and 21) 2:2 fabric is knitted at feeds A and C; reversely when dial and cylinder cams 22 and 23 are in action (positions in Figs. 9 and 18) and cams 20 and 2| are displaced from operative position, 1:1 fabric is made by feeds B and D. Obviously (assuming that the hereinafter described additional mechanism that is provided for projecting the needles to clearing positions is temporarily rendered ineffective also) the retraction of cams 22 and 23 discontinues the casting-off of loops at feeds B and D (by discontinuing the clearing or placement of the loops behind the needle latches at these feeds) and hence feeds A and C are permitted to knit substantially as though feeds B and D were not present in the machine; likewisethe retraction of cams 20 and 2| discontinues casting-off at feeds A and C and permits knitting at feeds B and D substantially as though feeds A and C were absent. Usually I so place the cylinder raising cams 2| and 23 that the cylinder needles reach, or at least stand in, their clearing positions about opposite the points of the dial projecting earns 20 and 22 respectively, as indicated in Fig. 9. The four cylinder stitch cams 25 are so placed that they bring the cylinder needles to their lowest positions substantially opposite the points on the machine where the dial stitch cams 26 retract the dial needles the farthest. At least at that or those feeds (B and D) where 1:1 fabric is knitted, I usually provide another dial stitch cam 24 somewhat to the rear of the stitch cam 26; by mounting the cams 26 for movement into and out of operating position (as by hinging them to the dial cap l0 as shown) any of the cams 24 or 26 can be used as desired.- All the stitch cams 24, 25 and 26, are thick enough to engage the low butt needles as well as the high butt needles. Usually when making 2:2 fabric (at feeds A and C) I use the stitch cams 26; and usually when making 1:1 fabric (at B and D) I employ the stitch cams 24 rather than 28, the cams 24 then making .a tighter fabric than 28. when any feed is to be out of action for any considerable time, the

feed of yarn at that feed will be discontinued of course. Obviously various controller mechanisms, simple or complex,.and manually or auto matically operated, can be employed for putting the various cams already mentioned into or out of action. Preferably I use those illustrated. A pair of finger levers 28 and 29 serve to position each of the dial needle projecting cams 28 and 22. From each of the dial cams (see Fig. 6)

a pin rises through a slot in the dial cap I8 and rests in a slot in a bell crank lever 21 mounted to turn freely on a pin or shaft 93 rising from the dial cap. The finger lever 28, also hinged on the dial cap and projecting beyond the edge of the latter, has a pin resting in another slot of lever 21; a spring 28, fastened to this pin and the dial cap, tends to turn this lever system in such a direction as to take cam 22 (or 20, as the case may be) out of action. The second finger lever 29, hinged to the dial cap and also projecting beyond the edge of the dial cap, has a shoulder to engage a shoulder of lever 21 in such a manner as to resist the action of spring 21, and thereby hold cam 22 (or 28) in action; a spring 29 urges lever 29 to.thi s holding position. The projecting end of the finger lever 28 of each feed is at a slightly different level from the companion lever 29; all the levers 28 are in one level, and all the levers 29 are in another. A bob pin I21, rising from the bed I of the machine, serves to knock over the levers 28 and 29 .alternately as the rotating dial carries them by the bob pin. This bob-pin has three positions; the lowest, below the path of all the levers 28 and 29; the middle position, in the path of say the lever 28; and the highest position, in which it is in the path of the levers 29. By putting the bob pin I21 in the path of the appropriate finger lever 28 or 29 of any one feed just before that feed reaches the bob pin, (or leavingit in that position if already so positioned), the position of the corresponding cam 28 or 22 can be changed, as will be apparent. Each of the projecting (raising) cams 2| and 23 for the cylinder needles is carried by its own bolt and, 21) to straighten out its associated toggle.

and thus raise the cam 2| or 23 of that feed to operating position; in doing this it passes the joint of the toggle slightly beyond the center line and rests it against the bell crank lever 33 (moving the lower end of the latter to the left from its position shown in Fig. 21) so that the toggle then serves to hold the respective cam 2| or 23 elevated and in action until the joint is thrust to the left again. The upper end of bell crank lever 33 (which is hinged to the side of cam cylinder 8 as shown in Fig. 21) projects into a finger lever 34 hinged to the top and projecting from cam cylinder 8, whence it is apparent that by turning. this lever 34 clockwise in Fig. 20, the lower end of the bell crank lever 33 is made to thrust the toggle joint over its center line to the left, whence the respective 3 cam 2| or 23, being no longer supported by the toggle is thrust down out of action by the pressure of the needle butts striking it. The toggle joint in thus moving to the right, returns finger lever 32 "to about its position shown in Figs. 20 and 21. The outer ends of all the finger levers 34 (one for each feed) stand in one level, which is somewhat higher than the level of the lower ends of the finger levers 32. A bob-pin 35 serves to knock over all the finger levers 32 and 34. This bob-pin has three positions; in its lowest position it is below the path of finger levers 32; in its middle position it stands in the path of the finger levers 32; in its highest position it stands in the path of the finger levers 83. Hence by raising this bob pin 35 to its middle or upper position just prior to the,passing of any feed, the appropriate finger lever 32 or 34 of that feed can be knocked over (to the left in Figs. 20 and 21) and thereby the cam 2| or 23 of that feed repositioned. Each dial stitch cam 26 and its associated cylinder stitch cam 25 (of the same feed) will usually need to be, or without harm can be, shifted together; hence a single mechanism will serve to put these two stitch cams of each feed into and out of action. Further, it is commonly desirable: that these stitch cams be adjustable to draw either long or short stitches; that is to say, have-two operating positions as well as an inoperative position. The mechanism I have devised for shifting these stitchcams 25 and 28 has both these positions. It will be understood that there is one of these mechanisms at each feed, and each is capable of shifting its cams 25 and 28 independently of all the others. Referring particularly to Figs.

6, 9, 14, 15 and 16: a pin 42, rising from each .to' swing its cam. 26 outwardly to its inoperative position. On the cam cylinder 8, each of the stitch cams 25 is carried by a slide 31 which is.

39 having two surfaces 40 and 4| at different elevations for engagement by the two threaded pins 48 and 41' carried ,(and independent and adjustable) in the bracket 48' which is fastened to in the cam cylinder 8 another bracket 18 also carries two (independently adjustable) threaded pins to engage and shift'the lever 44 and thereby the dial stitch cam 26. The lower end of the shaft 49 is geared to a parallel shaft 49*, and the two shafts 49 and 49 are provided with the finger levers I48 and I49 respectively, projecting outwardly from the cam cylinder. As appears from Fig. 15, the lever I48 is undercut and the lever I49 is overcut to provide adjacent provided with a cap shoulders, but otherwise these two levers are alike. All (four) of the levers I48 are at a single level; also all (four) of the levers I49 are at a single, but lower, level. A bob pin 11 is provided to .be struck by and knock over these finger levers'as it may be raised into their paths. This bob pin 11 has four positions;-in its lowest position (illustrated in full lines in Fig. 15) it is entirely below at its next higher position it is in the path of the lower finger levers I49; in its highest position (illustrated in broken lines in Fig. 15) it is in the path of the finger levers I48; in its middleraised position,'the bob-pin 11 is in the paths of the shoulders of both (all) the finger levers I48 and ,I49. A lever I48 striking the bob pin 11 when the latter is in its highest posithe rock shaft 49 mounted the level of these finger levers;.

tion above its lowest or inactive position) is thereby knocked over to the angular position in which I48 is shown in Fig. 9; both pins 46 and 41 are thereby taken off the head 39, and both the pins of bracket I8 are moved off lever 44 cam 25 then rises to its inactive position and cam 26 moves to its outermost and inactive position. When however. bob pin I1 is so placed as to be struck by the shoulder of whichever finger lever I48 or I49 may be outermost at the time, both these finger levers are moved to positions midway between I48 and I49 of Fig. 9, and thereby pin 46 is placed on surface 4| of head 38 and theright hand pin (Fig. 9) of bracket 49 bears on lever 44; the cams and 26 now retract their needles but not so deeply as before.

I prefer knitting plain fabrics of different re- 25 lations between their dial and cylinder stitches,

at different feeds as indicated and especially producing these different-stitch-relation fabrics by means of cams, both because of the comparatively simple construction involved and because pattern and related mechanisms are then readily applied to either the dial or cylinder needles or both. While I prefer to employ a true jacquard type of pattern mechanism as is here shown applied to the cylinder needles (because of the elaborateness of the patterns and other fancy effects that this type of pattern mechanism can produce), it will be apparent from the description of the application of this jacquard type of mechanism that other types of pattern and analogous mechanisms can be employed as well, either for the dial needles or the cylinder needles or both. The type of pattern mechanism here employed is well known, and causes the cylinder' feeds in such a selective manner as the fancy effect desired may require. This pattern mechanism is divided into a number of sections distributed around the machine (Fig. 1) and for say each feed a cylinder needle raising cam is prothe lower bed 2 (Fig. 4); these needle raising cams are placed in the same angular positions as the cams 2| and 23; the ring 54 is drivensynchronously with the main cam cylinder'B, and the cams 2I and 23 are all depressed out of action while the pattern mechanism is in use. The stitching on the dial is done by the cams 25. Each section of the pattern mechanism consists of apattem drum 50 mounted in brackets 5I carried by the lower bed plate 2, and a group of thin metal levers 52, say one foreach needle, provided with feelers 53 to engage a paper or like pattern carried by the drum 50. The inner ends of these levers 52 rest on the cam ring 54 in the path of the needle raising cams thereon previously mentioned; at their outer ends they are slotted and through the slots of each group passes a carrying rod 55 held in ,the brackets 5I of the respective section. In their outermost positions illustrated in Fig. 4, in which positions they are held normally by the individual lever springs 56,

75 the levers 52, jacks 51, say one for each needle,

vided on the secondary cam ring 54 carried 'on may be provided as will be understood. In general jacks, for .example such jacks as at 51, placed below or behind needles (which here are representative of stitch-forming elements), constitute extensions and in effect parts of the needles as it were, and may be employed wherever otherwise the needles would be inconveniently long or whenever for any other reason jacks may be desirable, all as will be understood. As the cam ring 54 rotates therefore, the needle raising cams on the ring 54 raise the inner ends of the levers 52 in succession, but the levers being in their outer positions, the corresponding cylinder needles are not raised. The drums are turned successively, each say one step just before each of the raising cams of 54 reaches its levers. Where this turning of a drum brings a perforation in its paper pattern underneath a feeler 53, that feeler falls through the perforation into a slot in the drum and the corresponding lever 52 is then moved inward and underneath its re spective needle (or needle jack 51). Now the passing raising cam of ring 54 not only raises that lever, but also raises the needle associated with that lever. Accordingly in each pass of each feed those needles whose respective levers 52 find perforations in the paper pattern below them, are raised to take yarn from the yarn guide of that feed, and a stitch is formed therefrom by the following cylinder stitch cam 25; cylinder needles corresponding to levers 52 which do not find perforations below them in any pass of any feed, remain down and do not take yarn from that feed. As soon as a feed passes any section, the levers of that section that were thrust inwardly, are retracted again, say by the springs 56. Each drum 50 is driven by a Geneva Wheel fixed to the drum shaft. The pin wheels SI of the Geneva wheels are driven by gears 62 keyed to the shafts 63, which are also carried by the brackets 5I; the various shafts 63 are geared together at their ends by miter gear 18, and at some point this train of shafts is driven from say the ring 54 so as to be driven in the necessary fixed speed relation to the cam cylinder 8 and dial cap III. This type of pattern mechanism being well known, and being subject to many variations in details of construction, the foregoing description of it will suflice for the present purposes. In order that plain cloth may be made by the use of the cams 2I and 23 above described, alternately with patterned fabric through the use of this pattern mechanism, it is necessary of .course that mechanism be provided for putting this pattern mechanism into action and taking it out of action again at will. Means for doing this are already known, but I prefer that shown wherein each pin wheel 6| is mounted on a bracket 65 which in turn is" connected to a lever 65 for reciprocation thereby to such a degree as to put the pin wheel into driving relation with its associated Geneva wheel 60 (Fig. 3) or out of driving relation therewith (lower right hand of Fig. 1). Each gear 62 is made so wide-faced that its pin wheel 6| remains in gear with it regardless of whether this pin wheel is in its right or left hand position, and each pin wheel carries with it a sleeve I9 (Fig. 24) which is slotted to permit the teeth of its Geneva wheel to pass only underneath the pin, so that when the pin wheel is out of driving relation with the geneva the sleeve holds the latter against turning;

hence both the pin wheels and the pattern drums remain at all times properly timed with respect to the movements of the various feeds around the machine axis. is provided with a yoke 61 containing a threepointed star wheel 68 mounted on a shaft, which also carries a six-pointed star wheel 69; the 5 shaft carrying these. star wheels is mounted on the fixed bed plate I as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. On the cam cylinder 8 is provided one vertical- 1y adjustable finger 18 for turning the star wheels 69 step by step as the cam cylinder 8 rotates and carries this finger by the star wheels 68 successively thereby shifting the pin wheels 6| into and out of action as will be understood; This pin 10 may be mounted on a bracket 1| as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and the bracket-mounted on a vertically sliding pin 12 in the cam cylinder 8. A lever 15 hinged to the cam cylinder, serves to raise the bracket 1| and thus put pin 10 in position to strike the star wheels 59, when the lever 15 is raised by the bob pin 16; when this occurs, 20 a spring pressed lever 13 snaps outwardly under a shoulder of bracket 1| to hold the latter raised to this active position. It will be understood that while one complete revolution of the cam cylinder 8 with the pin 18 raised to active posi- 25 tion will serve to turn all star wheels 69 one. step each and put all the sections of the pattern mechanism into action, the next revolution of the cam ring with the pin 10 raised to the same position will turn the star wheels another step and thus 30 put the pattern mechanism out'of action. After the bracket 1| and its operating pin 18 have been raised, they are lowered again (under the thrust of a spring on pin 12) ,by the levers 13 striking the bob pin 16, the latter being now dropped down to its low position; the levers 13 are thus knocked babk from underneath the shoulder of bracket 1|, permitting the latter to fall.

When making patterned fabric by selectively knitting on the cylinder (or dial) needles, it is "4 preferable to knit more or, less selectively on the dial (or cylinder) needles also, thereby making the number of stitches forming the back of the fabric less in number than they would be if each dial needle knitted from every pass of every yarn. To this end .I not only arrange for the needle projecting cams 20 to be out of action altemately withv the projecting cams 22 and vice versa, as needed for the production of fabrics having different relations between their dial and cylinder stitches, but also for having all the cams 28 and 22 out of action together; and I provide other mechanism for projecting the dial needles while pattern work is being done, this substitute mechanism being of such a nature that in any single rotation of the dial cap only a part of the dial needles knit from the yarn or yarns of one feed and the other dial needles knit from the yarn or yarns of another or other feeds. Broadly speaking, various types of mechanisms canbe used for bringing about this selective knitting by the needles forming the back of the fabric, and my invention is not limited to any particular type of mechanism. for this purpose, broadly speaking. Preferably however, rather than employ any more or less complex pattern mechanism, I employ mechanism which causes a more or less regular selective knitting at the back of the fabric; and preferably at each feed (or rather,

preferably, at each of those feeds that are in action when pattern work is being done) a skip operator as I have called it, such as a wheel 80, set rather well in advance ofcams 28 and 22, at

an angle to both the local radius of the machine and the local tangent of the dial edge, rotated by 75 the dial needles in passing or by the walls of the To oscillate thelevers 66, each slots in which the needles rest, and slotted as at 8| in Fig. 11 so that certain predetermined needles pass through the edge-of the wheel without being projected; the needles whose butts strike the wheel intermediate these cuts 8| are then 4 projected to, or at least toward, yarn-"taking position. In order that the needles may wheels in passing, the wheels may be notched as turn the at 82 to receive the needle butts of those needles that are to -be projected by the wheels. The

wheels may be carried on individual stub shafts 83 mounted on the dial cam cap and'the latter slotted'below the wheels to permit the wheels I find it preferable to reach the needle butts. to so design and locate such wheels that they project theneedles only part way to their outermost or clearing positions (say to tuck positions, the butts of the projected needles being placed outside separator cams 84 while the butts of the unprojected dial needles are allowed to pass inside these cams), and add to each a cam 85 to complete the projection of the dial needles to the clearing point; that is to say, to the point where the loops fall back of the needle latches. By mounting each of these cams 85 so that they can be moved into and out of action, and providing at each feed another cam 81 movable into a position where it can restore to their'original retracted positions those needles that are partly projected by the adjacent wheel, the eifect of each wheel can be nullified at will. These two cams 85 and 81 can be mounted on a single hinged piece 86; when the latter is turned to the position illustrated at the upper right hand of Fig. 9, cam 81 serves to return the partly projected needles to their innermost rest positions in advance of the point where the yarn of the respective feed is fed to the dial needles and in advance of the point where the'needle-projecting cam 28 or 22 acts, so that the latter are free to project their needles if desired; on the other hand, when this piece 86 is turned to its outer position illustrated at the. bottom of Fig. 9,' cam 85 supplements the wheel and projects to clearing position those needles selected for this action by the local wheel 80. Each trick wheel or skip operator 80 may be so cut of course asto project and pass the needles in any desired order, and therefore to bring about almost any desired stitch-formation at the back of the fabric. Usually however I make the number of needles in the dial a non-multiple of the sum of the 1 thereof is not a multiple of three; as a result,"

speaking generally, a needle projected by a given wheel in one round is skipped by the same wheel in the next round of the dial cap. Also usually at least when yarns of two or three or four colors are used in making the pattern effect on the face of the fabric, I cut or slot the wheel (at 8|) in such a manner that each wheel projects every second needle; so far as' possible, usually, I so arrange the wheels that each projects needles which the preceding wheel left unprojected. And

at least when the pattern or fancy effect is composed of an odd number of colors fed to the needles at an odd number of feeds, I use an uneven number of needles in the dial in order to equalize the number of stitches knitted on the various dial needles. with such an arrangement of the trick I would usually use in the wheels or skip operators 88, fabric having the pattern worked out on its face in three colors, has the so-called twill back or birdseye back. In order to prevent the reduced-stitch back (whether produced by such wheels 88 'or by other mechanism) from appearing to be divided into sections (which sectionalization is more or less pronounced depending on the contrast between the colors employed) I bring all the mechanisms for producing the reduced-stitch back into action at preferably some one point around the needle cylinder, or at two diametrically opposite points when, say, the tubular fabric is to be cut longitudinally at two diametrically opposite points. To this end, I have provided a single bob-pin I21 for taking the dial needle projecting cams 28 and 22 out of action, as before described; and I preferably use but a single bob pin 99 (or bob pins located at a single place) for swinging the cam members 86 into the position illustrated at the bottom of Fig. 9, in which position they bring about the knitting of the reduced-stitch back. As

with respect to the other adjustable position cams of the machine, various kinds of mechanisms can be used to shift the cam members 86 from one position to another, but preferably I employ the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 7. This mechanism (at each feed) includes a gear 98 fastened to the pin or shaft 9| by means of which the cam member 86 of the respective feed is hinged to the dial cap I8; co-operating with it is another gear 92 fast on the shaft 93 rising through the dial cap I8. Above the finger levers 28 and 29 (see Fig. 6) which operates the adjacent needle projecting cam 28 or 22, an arm 94 is fastened to the upper end of the shaft 93 and this arm has a pin and slot connection with a rock arm 95 fastened to a rockshaft 96 rising from the cam cylinder 8. Below the finger levers 28 and 29 a finger lever 91 is fastened to the rock shaft 96, and the oppositely operating finger lever 98 is geared to this rock shaft. All (four) of the finger levers 91 are at one level and all (four) of the finger levers 98 are at another level. The finger levers 91 and 98 are knocked over as required by the single bob pin 99. The latter has three positions. In the lowermost it is be low the fingers 91 and 98; in its middle position, it, is within the reach of say the fingers 91; in its highest position it is within the path of the finger levers 98. Therefore by raising the bob pin 99 from its lowest position to either one of its other positions just before any feed comes opposite the bob pin, the cam member 86 of that feed can be moved from its outer position shown at the bottom of Fig. 9 (in which position reducedstitch back is knitted) to its inner position shown at the upper right of Fig. 9 (in which position the action of the associated wheel 88 is nullified) or vice versa. The wheel 88 and various associated cams somewhat as described above, constitute the subject matter of my copending application Serial No. 454,856 filed May 23, 1930;

however I herein claim subject matter related thereto which is herein illustrated and described, and which is not disclosed in my said copending application.

Where for example say a 2:2 bottom is to be knitted (say at one end of each garment-length piece of fabric) it is usually desirable that this bottom be knitted either of a relatively heavy yarn or that an additional end of yarn be knitted in to reinforce this bottom. Consequently at the feed or feeds where the 2:2 is knitted (e. g., at feeds A and C) I employ a yarn changer capable of feeding any one of two or more yarns, so that this or these feeds can be used also for knitting patterned fabrics as before described. The use of yarn changers at the other feed or feeds is optional, generally speaking, depending, for example, on the number of yarns which the constructor desires to make available. Furthermore this heavier-yarn or reinforced bottom (due to its being thicker than the body of the fabric) is the cause, I have found, of a certain irregularity in the knitting found in fabrics incorporating say both 1:1 and 2:2 when made on circular rib knitting machines wherein dogs on the cylinder and dial are employed to hold the dial against rotation with respect to the cylinder. Accordingly, in my machines adapted to make fabrics having different relations between their dial and cylinder stitches I employ a dogless mechanism for holding the dial against rotation with respect to the cylinder. Obviously any of the various dogless mechanisms that have been devised heretofore may be employed. The dogless mechanism illustrated will serve for illustrative purposes, and has the advantage in that it incorporates an improved form of racking mechanism as well. The racking feature can be employed in producing fancy effects in the fabric, or for making a finished edge, or both, as will be understood. In

- this dogless mechanism, the post 6 to which the dial 4 is fixed, is keyed or otherwise fastened against rotation to a member I82 which is carried by a bracket I83 mounted on the posts 1 rising from the bed plate I (see Figs. 1 and 2). Above this bracket I83 rises the standard I84 on which the yarn cones are carried and a circular member I85, also carried by the bracket I83, and driven with the cam cylinder 8 and dial cap I8 by means of the connection I86 is pierced at I81 (where it is connected to standard I84) outside the member I82 to permit the yarns to pass through it from the cones. In known manner, a number of sliding latches I88 serve to lock the circular member I82 to the fixed bracket I 83, these sliding latches being actuated by a cam race I 8| in the rotating member I85 in such a manner as to permit the yarn holes I81 to pass I the latches. This general type of dogless mechanism is well known, and the foregoing description will therefore serve the present purposes. Known racking mechanisms of various kinds may also be used, though I prefer to rack the dial as a whole rather than by sections racked successively. Preferably to this end the member I89 of the bracket I83 into which the sliding latches I88 project for locking the member I82 and post 6 against rotation, is itself mounted for more or less rotation in the body of the bracket I83, and mechanism is provided for rotating, or at least oscillating, this member I89 thereby racking the dial accordingly. For this purpose, the member I89 is preferably provided with gear teeth in its outer edge, these teeth gearing with a worm I I8 fastened to the Geneva wheel II I, by gears H2 and miter gear I28 the horizontal shaft H3 is driven constantly from the member I85 of the dogless mechanism, and the shaft H3 is provided with clutch mechanism for throwing either the pin wheel H4 or pin wheel II5 into operating relation with the Geneva wheel III, these two pin wheels being rotated in opposite directions on and by the shaft II3. This result may be secured by mounting the pin wheel II4 for direct drive by the shaft H3 and mounting the pin wheel I I5 on an outer hollow shaft driven in the opposite direction by the miter gear I I6, and providing a cam track I" for sliding the two pin wheels along the axis of the shaft I I3. Briefly, three pins H8, H9 and I20 are provided for sliding these pin wheels; when pin H9 projects into the cam race I", as shown in Fig. 1, both pin wheels are held out of engagement with the Geneva wheel I I I as there shown; when pin H9 is retracted and pin H8 is thrust into the cam race obviously pin wheel H5 is pulled up -wardly (in Fig. 1) and engages the Geneva wheel I I I; likewise when pin I I9 is retracted and pin I20 is thrust into the cam race I", pin wheel H4 is thrust into operating relation with the Geneva wheel -I I I. Pin H9 is connected to both pins H8 and I20 for operation reversely thereto; pin H8 is thrust inwardly by striker I2I operated by shaft I22 which in turn is rocked at will by the vertical link I23; likewise pin I20 is thrust inwardly at will by the striker I24 mounted on rock shaft I25 which is rocked by the vertical link I26. The slotting of the Geneva wheel III and the pitch of the threads of the worm H are such preferably that one rotation of either pin wheel H4 or H is suflicient to rack the dial the distance of one needle.

When racking the whole dial, it is necessary of course that none'of the dial needles be left projecting between the cylinder needles (or reversely, that none of the cylinder needles be left projecting between dial needles) at the time of the racking operation. To this end prior to racking all the cylinder raising cams 2I and 23 can be lowered out of operation by mechanism previously described, and thus this result secured. Preferably, however, I add a safety mechanism to assure all the cylinder needles (or dial needles) being held retracted during racking. For this purpose, I surround the links I23 and I26 which direct the racking operation with a yoke I30 and provide each of the links with its own pin I3I to support this yoke; normally this yoke is held downwardly against these pins by the spring I32. One face of the yoke I36-is cammed (as shown in Fig. 2) and in its lower a position this yoke I30 holds lever I33 in the broken line position'illustrated in Fig. 20; this lever is hinged at I34 to the top of the base plate I and is pulled against the yoke I30 by a spring' I35. At each feed, a finger lever I31, engaging with a pin I39 arising from the link I36 which is mounted on the adjacent finger lever 34 previously described and a companion lever also hinged to the top of cam cylinder 8 (Figs. 20 and 21), is fastened to a rock shaft I44 mounted in the cam cylinder 8 and at its lower end having a yoke I45 engaging with a pin I46 rising from an oscillating ring I40 carried on the horizontal foot of the cam cylinder 8; in turn the ring I40 carries, at each feed, a finger I42 normally resting against the adjacent toggle 3I; one or more springs I tend to move the ring I40 in the direction to bring fingers I42 toward the toggles 3|. when either of the racking rods I23 and I26 is" raised to bring about racking of the dial, the

yoke I30 is raised therewith and the'cammed' xieee or this yoke then permits the lever I33 to move to its full line position in Fig. 20. In this position; it 'is struck by the first of the finger levers I3'I that is brought opposite it by the rotation of the cam cylinder 8; this finger lever I3! is thereby turned counterclockwise (Fig. 20). and by its engagement with its pin I39 it thrusts the link I36 to the left, thereby causing adjacent lever 33 to break the toggle 3.I of that feed. At I the engagement of one of the fingers I42 with a toggle 3I holds ring I 40 and thereby all the finger levers I31 insuch position that the latter can strike lever I33; when all these cams are down however, the broken toggles permit the ring I40 to rest so far in the clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 20) that all the levers I31 are out of the reach of I33.

As before pointed out, a machine arranged for the production of a plain fabric (or fabrics) having two or more relations between the dial stitches and the cylinder stitches, and especially where the machine is arranged for pattern work also, usually requires a yarn changer at at least one feed in order that anextra heavy or an added reinforcing yarn canbe employed in one (or more) of the plain fabrics. Furthermore, where the whole dial is racked as a unit and the cam cylinder 6 and dial cam cap I0 continue in operation during the'racking operation, it is fingers (say two, I5I and I52) swinging loosely on the hinge pin I53. Above the level of this hinge pin 4 I53, individual pivoted finger levers I54 and I55 serve to throw the. yarn fingers into inactive position (yarns out of action); finger lever I54 thus serves yarn finger I52 and finger lever I55 serves yarn finger I5I Below the level of the hinge pin I53, other finger levers serve to throw the yarn fingers into action. I56 and I5'I serving the yarn fingers I5I and I52 respectively. The combined scissors and yarn holder I56 serves the yarn of finger I5I and scissors-and holder I59 serves the yarn from yarn finger I52. These scissors and yarn holders are opened by the respective levers I60 and I6I, and are closed by their individual springs I62; projecting finger ers. A bob pin I65 carries head 166 to operate --the finger levers I 54 and I55, and also carries head, I 61 to operate the scissors finger levers I63 From this construction, it is evident that and I64 in co-operation therewith; In the lowest position of bob pin I65 (shown in' Fig. 5) heads-l66 and I6'I are out of operation; in its middle position, I66 is inposition to be struck by finger lever I55 (as the rotation of the dial .to be struck by the "finger lever I54 (assuming this finger lever to lie in its 'outer position) and head I61 is in position to be'struck by the corresponding scissors finger lever I64. In like manner, and operating in the same way, the bob pin I68 is provided with two heads I69 and I10 cooperating respectively with the finger levers I56-I51 and I63-I64. Hence by raising the bob pins I55 and I68, either or both yarns can be put into or taken out of action at any or all.

feeds.

If desired, as it usually will be in such a highly developed machine as that illustrated, a cast-off cam can be added; that is to say, a cam located at a place where no yarn is fed and movable at will into a position where it can project needles to cast-01f position. On the bracket I'll (Fig. 1),

controller, and the whole operated by some such mechanism as illustrated, which permits the use of a perforated pattern I86 of paper or similarly light flexible material as the controlling element, and which can be brought into action from time to time, as required, by a pattern chain I91 for example. In the present instance, the bob pin 15 is arranged to be thrust upwardly by the bob pin rod I15 (Fig. 21) bob pin I21 by rod I16; bob pin 35 by rod I11; bob pin 99 by rod I18; yarn changer bob pin I68 by rod I19; the two rods I23 and I26 serve the racking mechanism as before pointed out; yarn changing bob pin I65 is thrust upwardly by rod I; and bob pin 11 by rod I8I. Each of these rods is provided with as many rodraising or control levers I84 as the bob pin of the corresponding rod has operating positions (positions above its lowest or inoperative position). Thus the racking rod I23 has but one upper position (in which it thrusts the striker arm I2I against the pin H8), and hence but one lever I84 is provided for rod I23; again, rod I8 I which controls the position of dial stitch cam 28, has to have three operating positions and hence is provided with three of these levers I84. Each of these levers I84 is provided with a feeler pin I85 resting on the control pattern I86, and its other end is slotted to embrace a rod I81 (Fig. 2) carried by the bracket plates I88 supporting the master controller mechanism from the lower side of the bed plate 2. Individual springs tend to hold these levers in their outer positions (the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 2) and a deep notch I99 in each of these levers permits the lever I (hinged at I81) and its cross-bar I9I (extending beneath all the levers I84) to oscillate without turning these levers I84 on the rod I81 so long as the levers remain in this cuter position. However, when a perforation of nattern I86 comes underneath one of the feelers I85 and the feeler falls through it into a slot in the pattern drum I 89 so that the drum in turning a further step, or part of a step thrusts the corresponding lever I84 to the right in Fig. '2 or toward the axis of the needle cylinder, the subsequent swinging of the lever I 90 thrusts the crossbar 'I9I against the under side of that lever I84, raising its outer end, and thereby raises the controller rod standing above the respective lever I84 and the bob pin, if any, associated with that lever; and the distance raised corresponds to the vertical depth of the respective lever immediately above the point where the bar I9I strikes it. By suitable timing of the controller drum I89 and the swinging of the lever I90, this raising of a bob pin is made to occur just before a feed reaches the control station, and by a further-timing of the lever I90 the bob pin is held raised while the feed passes. in action) at such a speed that the controller pattern I 86 makes four calls on the row of feelers in each rotation of the cam cylinder 8, and by thrusting the cross-bar I9I upwardly a corresponding number of times, any bob pin can be made to act on any feed at any time; and by using beneath any rod two or more levers I84 having different appropriate vertical depths above the point where the cross-bar I9I strikes them, that rod can be raised at any time to any one of two or more heights. By this means the raising of the various bob pins to the various heights hereinbefore prescribed is broughtabout. The controller mechanism is driven by miter gear I96 (Fig. 22) which meshes with a gear on the train of shafts 63 driving the pattern mechansm sections, and hence the controller is driven in proper timed relation with the cam cylinder 8 and dial cap I0. The function of the pattern chain I91 is to permit the controller drum I89 to remain at rest except substantially while changes are being made by the master controller, thus permitting the use of a relatively short controller pattern I86. To this end, gear I96 drives (through I99 and 200) a shaft carrying the broad-faced gear 20I; incidentally, this gear 20I is attached to a rotating cam 202 on which bears a roller 203 carried by the lever I90 and which thus serves to oscillate the lever I90 and its cross-bar I9I. The controller drum I89 is driven by a Geneva wheel 204, and the latter in turn is driven by the pin wheel 205 which is carried by a sleeve having a V-shaped cam 206 shown particularly in Fig. 22; this sleeve is slidable parallel with its own axis, and the gear 20I is sufliciently wide-faced to permit the pin wheel 205 to remain meshed with it, and driven by it, when the pin wheel is in its out of action position (illustrated in Fig. 22) as well as when it is somewhat further to the right where it cooperates with the Geneva wheel 204 ,to turn the control drum I89 step by step. The pattern chain I91 is carried on the sprocket wheel 220 to which is fastened a ratchet wheel 201. In order that the chain I91 may be relatively short, a larger ratchet wheel 208 is mounted loosely on the same shaft where it can shield the ratchet wheel 201 from its driving pawl 209 except at the one deep notch 2I0 in ratchet 208; this notch is deep enough to permit the pawl 209 to enter the teeth of .the ratchet 201. The pawl 209 is reciprocated by a connection to the lever I90 as is shown in Fig. '2, and from the construction described it is apparent that the chain I91 is driven forward one step in each rotation of the larger ratchet wheel 208. Wherever it is necessary to make any change in the operation of the knitting machine, that is to say, to change the position of a knitting cam, to rack the dial, to operate a yarn changer, or bring the pattern mechanism into action or put it out of action, the chain I91 is provided with a dog or dogs 2I I which, in passing, oscillate a lever 2I2 which is hinged at 2I3.

The left hand end of this lever 2I2 (as viewed in Fig. 2) is notched to receive a lever 2I4, hinged at 2I5, which is connected to shift two pins 2I6 and 2 I 1, either one of which is thus made to stand Hence by rotating the drum I89 (when I in the path of the cam 206 on the pin wheel 205; when a dog 2I I raises lever 2 I2, pin 2I6 is thrust into the path of the cam and thereby the pin wheel 205 is moved into position for operating 5 the Geneva wheel 204, and thus operating the master controller; contrari-wise, when the dog 2| I passes from underneath the roller on 2I2 and thus permits this lever 2I2 to fall again, pin 2" is thrust into the path of cam 206 and thereby the pin wheel 205 is moved out of operation with the Geneva, wheel, in a manner which will now be understood.

The multiple and complex changes in machine operation that are provided for in the highly developed machine illustrated, require the machine to operate (or at least it is preferable that it be operated) rather slowly while the changes are being made. I therefore provide a change-speed gearing and so couple it up with the master con- 0 troller that the machine operates rather slowly while changes in operation are taking place and operates at a higher speed at other times. This increases the daily production in such machines as is evident. This connection may be through the lever 2I2 which is operated by the pattern chain I91 in starting and stopping the master controller, although other connections may be resorted to. In the present instance the power for driving the machine is applied to the pulley 225, which is fixed to the shaft 226. A sleeve 221,

fastened to this shaft, carries at its ends two expanding brake bands 228, which have individual rock shafts 229 for expanding and contracting them. Each of these rock shafts is provided with an operating finger 230 and 23I, projecting outwardly, and the two rock shafts are geared together as illustrated in Fig. 23, so that only one of the brake bands is expanded at a time. Outside the left-hand (Fig. 22) brake band is a sleeve carrying the miter gear 232 which meshes with the driving gear 233 carried by shaft 234; this shaft also carries a gear 235 meshing with the teeth in the outer edge of the cam cylinder 8 for driving the latter. Hence it is apparent that when the left-hand brake band is expanded, the miter gear 232 is driven at the same speed as the power shaft 226, and the cam cylinder and dial cap are driven at a correspondingly high speed.

When this left-hand brake band is contracted however, and the right-hand brake band is expanded, thereby a sleeve outside this right-hand brake band is coupled to the power shaft 226, and thereby a gear 236 on this sleeve acts through reduced speed gears 231 to drive the miter gear 232; whence expanding the right-hand brake band (as viewed in Fig. 22) causes operation of the knitting machine at a lower speed. To operate the fingers 230 and 23I and thus bring one brake band or the other intoaction, a hinged yoke 238 and, coupled thereto, a sliding block, are provided; the yoke is connected to the sliding rod 2I9 and in one position of this rod the block is struck by the brake band finger 230, the latter being thus knocked over, and in another position of the sliding rod 2I9 the block is so placed as to be struck by the brake band finger 23I. Thus in one position of the rod 2 I9 the left-hand brake band is brought into operation and in the other position the right-hand brake band is brought into operation. By connecting this rod 2I9 to the lever 2I2 (for example, through lever system 2I8) the machine is caused to operate at high speed (232 coupled direct to the drive shaft 226) when only knitting is being done (i. e., when 75 there is no dog 2I I of the pattern chain I91 underneath the roller of the lever H2) and is caused to operate at a much slower speed, a speed proper for enabling the changes in machine operations to take place satisfactorily (miter gear 232 coupled to drive shaft 226 through the speed reducing gear 236231) while the changes are actually being made (a dog 2 of the pattern chain I91 being under lever 2I2).

During the operation of changing yarns, the dial stitches should be formed by the dial stitch earns 26, rather than by the dial stitch cams 24; this to assure the entry of the new yarn into the cylinder needles. Accordingly, at least as a safety measure, I prefer as a detail to add at each feed a lever I1I (Fig. 6) to engage a pin I12 on the dial cam levers 44 and with its outer end placed in the plane of both the finger levers I56 and I51 of the associated yarn-changing mechanism. Thus when one of the fingers levers of the yarn-changing mechanism is actuated to put a new yarn into action, the same bob-pin I63 which brings this about is also struck by the adjacent lever "I and this places the associated dial stitch cam 26 in the desired position.

In advance of each of the trick wheels 80 or skip operators, it is well to advance the dial needles to tuck position to open their latches; otherwise the latches may catch the yarn guide plate 250 of the corresponding feed in some instances. This is accomplished by a suitable shaping of the race of the needle butts of the dial needles, as indicated at 25I in Fig. 9. At at least one of these points where the dial needles are advanced to open their latches, it is well to provide a latch opener, and to prevent injury in case any latch sticks, or in case any needle is raised up high enough to strike the latch opener, I prefer to mount the latch opener- 252 in a yielding manner, and preferably so that it can yield both tangentially of the dial cap and in an upward direction. For this purpose, the latch opener 252 is carried by a bracket 253 which is rotatably mounted on the inclined post 254, but is normally held so that thepoint 252 is in latch opening position by spring 255. Preferably also, at the latch opener I provide a guide 256 (Fig. 13) for pressing the dial needles down into their slots in the dial.

It will be understood of course that my invention is not limited to the details of construction illustrated, and described above, except as appears hereinafter in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a multi-feed circular rib knitting ma chine, sliding latch needles difiering among themselves in form, the needles of different forms being intermixed in one needle bed and also intermixed in another needle bed, a needle-projecting cam at one feed operable on needles of one form in one bed, a needle-projecting cam at a second feed operable on needles of another form in the same bed, a needle-projecting cam at the first mentioned feed operable on. needles of one form in said another needle bed, and a needle-projecting cam at the second mentioned feed operable on needles of another form in said another needle bed, said cams of the first mentioned feed on the one hand and said cams of the second mentioned feed on the other being movable to and from clearing position alternately, whereby fabric of one relation between the dial and cylinder stitches is producible at the first mentioned feed and fabric of another relation between its dial and cylinder stitches is producible at the second mentioned feed.

2. In a multi-feed circular rib knitting machine, sliding latch needles having high butts, sliding latch needles having low butts, high and low butt needles being intermixed in the dial and alsoin the cylinder, a cam at one feed operable on only the high butt dial needles, a cam at a second feed operable on the low butt dial needles, a cam at one of said two feeds operable on only the high butt cylinder needles, and a cam at the other of said feeds operable on the low butt cylinder needles, said cams of the two feeds being movable alternately to and from position .where they act on needles, whereby fabric having one relation between its dial and cylinder stitches is producible by the use of the said cams at one of said two feeds and fabric having another relation between its dial and cylinder stitches is producible by the use of the said cams at the other of said two feeds.

3. In a multi-feed circular rib knitting machine, sliding latch needles diflerlng among themselves in form, the needles of different forms being intermixed in the dial and also intermixed in the cylinder, a needle-projecting cam at one feed operable on dial needles of one form, a needleprojecting cam at a second feed operable on dial needles of another form, a needle-projecting cam at the first mentioned feed operable on cylinder needles of one form, and a needle-projecting cam at the second mentioned feed operable on cylinder needles of another form, means for moving said cams of said one feed on the one hand and said cams of the second feed on the other hand to and from operating position alternately, where- P by fabric of one relation between the dial and cylinder stitches is producible at the first mentioned feed and fabric of another relation between its dial and cylinder stitches is producible at the second mentioned feed, and means for projecting selectively, at each pass of each feed, all the needles of one of said needle banks.

4. In a multi-feed circular rib knitting machine, sliding latch needles having high butts, sliding latch needles having low butts, high and low butt needles being intermixed in the dial and also in the cylinder, a cam at one feed operable on only the high butt dial needles, a cam at a second feed operable on the low butt dial needles, a cam at one of said two feeds operable on only the high butt cylinder needles, and a cam at the other of said feeds operable on the low butt cylinder needles, all the cams of one of said two feeds being movable from operative position alternately with all the cams of the other of said feeds, whereby fabric having one relation between its dial and cylinder stitches is producible at one of said two feeds and fabric having another relation between its dial and cylinder stitches is producible at the other of said two feeds, means for moving said cams of one of said needle banks to inoperative position, and means for selectively operating all the needles of said one of the needle banks, at each pass of said two feeds.

5. In a multi-feed circular rib knitting machine, sliding latch needles difi'ering among themselves in form, the needles of diflerent forms being'intermixed in the dial and also intermixed in the cylinder, a needle-projecting cam at one feed operable on dial needles of one form, a needleprojecting cam at a second feed operable on dial needles of another form, a needle-projecting cam at the first mentioned feed operable on cylinder needles of one form, and a needle-projecting cam at the second mentioned feed operable on cylinder needles of another form, all the needle-projecting cams of one feed being movable from operating position alternately with all the needle-projectlng cams of the other feed, whereby fabric of one relation between the dial and cylinder stitches is producible at the first mentioned feed and fabric of another relation between its dial and cylinder stitches is produci ble at the second mentioned feed, means for moving all of said cams to inoperative positions, and means for selectively projecting all the dial needles and all the cylinder needles at each pass of each of said feeds.

.6. In a circular rib knitting machine, sliding latch needles, means for selectively projecting said needles part way to their clearing positions, a cam to the rear of said means for projecting said partly projected needles to their clearing positions, another cam also to the rear of said means for returning the partlyprojecting needles toward their rest positions, said two cams being movable into and out of action, and a cam to the rear of said two cams movable into and out ,of action for projecting needles of said bed to their clearing positions, the last mentioned cambeing located so far to the rear of said two cams as to be able to project needles returned toward their rest positions by the second mentioned cam.

'7. In a circular rib knitting machine, sliding needles in one of the needle beds, means for selectively projecting'said needles part way to their clearing positions, a cam to the rear of said means for projecting said partly projected needles totheir clearing positions, another cam also to the rear of said means for returning the partly projected needles toward their rest positions, said two cams being movable into and out of action, and a cam to the rear of said two cams movable into and out of action for projecting needles of said bed to their clearing positions, the last mentioned cam being located so far to the rear of said two cams as to be able to project needles returned toward their rest positions by the second mentioned cam, said means and all said cams being parts of the same feed.

8. In a multi-feed circular rib knitting machine, sliding latch needles diifering among themselves in form, the needles of different forms being intermixed in at least one of the needle banks, means at each of two feeds for selectively projecting the needles of said needle bank part way to their clearing positions, a cam to the rear of each of said means for projecting the partly projected needles to their clearing positions, a cam to the rear of each of said means for returning the partly projected needles toward their at rest positions, a needle-projecting cam at one feed, to the rear of the aforementioned cams of that feed, operable to project said needles of one form to clearing positions, and a needle-projecting cam at the other of said feeds, to the rear of the aforementioned cams of said another feed, for projecting said needles of another form, said cams being movable toward and from their operating positions.

9. In a circular rib knitting machine having sliding latch needles, cam means for projecting the needles of one needle bank to .clearing position, a stitch cam associated therewith, a pattern mechanism to control selective knitting by the needles of the other needle bank, a second stitch cam on the first mentoned needle bank in advance of the first mentioned stitch cam thereof, said second mentioned stitch cam being movable into and out of operating-position, a yarn changer in the feed containing said cams, and means associated with the yarn changing mechanism for having the second mentioned stitch cam in action while yarns are being changed.

10. In a circular rib knitting machine adapted to knit a plurality of kinds of plain rib fabric and also to knit a fabric patterned on its face by selective lmitting from a plurality of yarns, means for feeding a plurality of yarns simultaneously, a plurality of stitch-forming elements at each of the needle beds diflering among themselves in form at each bed, a plurality of cams to actuate said stitch-forming elements of one of the beds to causeknitting thereat, a plurality of cams to actuate said stitch-forming elementsof the other of said beds to cause knitting thereat in cooperation with the knitting at the first mentioned bed, each of said plurality of cams including at least one cam operable on stitchforming elements of one form and another-cam operable on stitch-forming elements of another form, means to render at least said another cams ineflective without rendering said one cams ineflective, the said one cam of both beds being capable of being effective while said another cam of both beds is ineffective, means to render said one cam of both beds ineffective when said another cam of both beds is inefiective, said stitchforming elements of different forms being intermixed at both of said beds in such a manner as to produce one of the desired plain rib fabrics when said one cam 01' both beds is effective and said another cam of both beds is inefiective, and

to produce a second desired plain rib fabric when said another cam of both beds is effective,

means to act on said stitch-forming elements of oneof said. needle beds to cause, in individual rotations of said means for feeding a plurality of yarns, and in a substantially regular manner, a part of all forms of said stitch-forming elements to form stitches from one of said'yarns and other of said stitch-forming elements to form stitches from 'another of said yarns, pattern means to act on said stitch-forming elements of the other of said needle beds to cause the same, in individual rows of stitches formed at said other bed, to form some of the stitches from one of said yarns and to form the remainder of the stitches from the other or others of said yarns as the desired pattern requires, and, means to render said pattern means, and said means which acts on all forms of the stitch-forming elements I of the first mentioned needle bed in a substantially regular manner, inefiective when any of said cams is effective, and to render the same effective when all the cams directing operation of said stitch-forming elements to form plain fabrics are inefiective.

- JULIUS SIRMAY; 

